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In an emergency, or if an incident is happening right now and someone is in danger, call 911.

Community Response Protocol

If you have experienced or witnessed racism or hate, this protocol describes the different types of incidents and the steps you can take in response. When you’re ready, you can also report the incident.

In an emergency, or if an incident is happening right now and someone is in danger, call 911.

Discrimination

Inequitable or unfair treatment of a person or group because of a personal characteristic like sex, race, religion, family status, disability, place of origin, gender identity or sexual orientation. This could include unequal pay at work, denial of service at a business, or denial of rent/housing.

Steps for response

  1. Identify immediate needs of victim and respond.
  2. Refer to appropriate community support if requested.
  3. Identify if the employer or service provider has a protocol for addressing incidents of racism or discrimination.
  4. Alert Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network of incident.
  5. Advise victim of their rights under the BC Human Rights Code, and direct to free services of the BC Human Rights Clinic.

Hate-Motivated Incident (Non-criminal)

Actions motivated by hate against an identifiable group, based on race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, or on any other similar factor. This could include using aggressive or abusive language in public.

Steps for response

  1. Identify immediate needs of victim and respond.
  2. With permission of victim, call police non-emergency number.
  3. Refer to appropriate community support if requested.
  4. Alert Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network member.

Hate-Motivated Crime

Criminal offences against people or property motivated by hate, prejudice or bias toward an identifiable group. This may include assault, threats, harassment, material on social media or graffiti/vandalism.

Steps for response

  1. Identify immediate needs of victim and respond.
  2. Contact police at 911 in cases of emergency.
  3. Call the non-emergency police number in non-emergency cases.
  4. Refer to appropriate community support if requested.
  5. Alert Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network member of incident.

Hate Speech, Propaganda and Material

Public statements (verbal or written) in any public space that promote or incite hatred against an identifiable group, or advocate genocide toward an identifiable group. Public spaces includes non-private social media.

Steps for response

  1. Identify immediate needs of victim and respond.
  2. Contact police at 911 if incident is taking place in real time.
  3. Or report the incident to police using their non-emergency number.
  4. Contact representatives from the targeted community.
  5. Connect with Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network.

Social Media and Internet Platforms

Include apps such as Facebook and Twitter and platforms such as Zoom and gaming sites.

Steps for response

  1. Call non-emergency police number and ask for an Officer responsible for hate crime and incident reporting.
  2. Contact webmaster or hosting company.
  3. Connect with Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network.
  4. Report on the Crime Stoppers website.

Hate Graffiti and Vandalism

Damage or defacement of property demonstrating hate, prejudice or bias toward an identifiable group.

Steps for response

  1. For major property crime contact the police at 911 immediately.
  2. For other incidents, call police non-emergency number.
  3. Take photographs or videotape, take note of details such as location and time of incident.
  4. Support the victim(s) of graffiti. After documenting, contact municipal or regional government for removal.
  5. Refer to appropriate organization.
  6. Connect with Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network.